AIKEN, S.C. – The Augusta University baseball team matched nine hits to the USC Aiken Pacers on Friday night in the Peach Belt Conference series-opening game, but fell 5-2 at Roberto Hernandez Stadium.
The Jaguars moved to 15-18 overall and 7-9 in the Peach Belt. Ranked No. 22 in the nation, USC Aiken is now 25-10 and 10-6 in the league
Augusta senior Tristan Jones (4-4) struck out six in his 5.2 innings and allowed eight hits for five runs. Junior Casey Lenoch pitched 2.1 innings of relief work for AU and struck out one while giving up one hit.
The first four Augusta batters each had two hits. Senior quarter Cody Lanford, Tyler Roberts, Clint Hardy, and Cole Janousek carded two hits, while Hardy and Janousek picked up an RBI.
Jonathan Banks and Daulton Weeks posted a pair of hits for the USCA offense and combined for three RBI.
Joseph Benitez (7-2) went seven innings for the Pacers and struck out six, before Hunter Dollander pitched a pair of innings to get his second save on the season.
Augusta took the first lead of the game when Hardy hit a first-inning single to score Lanford. Two hits for the Pacers in the next inning gave them a 2-1 lead, but the Jags tied the game on a Janousek single.
The USCA offense responded in the sixth inning and scored three runs to take the game.
The teams meet for game two of the PBC series on Saturday, April 8 for a 4:00 p.m. first pitch.
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